Ligatus GmbH was a leading European native advertising and performance marketing company, originally a subsidiary of Gruner + Jahr, which itself is part of Bertelsmann. Ligatus specialized in delivering high-quality, content-integrated advertising solutions for publishers and advertisers, focusing on premium environments and performance. In February 2019, Ligatus was acquired by Outbrain, a global content discovery and native advertising platform. The acquisition aimed to strengthen Outbrain's European presence and combine the strengths of both companies in the native advertising space. Ligatus's technology and network have since been integrated into Outbrain's offerings.
The headquarters in Cologne was the central hub for Ligatus's operations, including management, product development, sales strategy, and international coordination for its native advertising network across Europe.
Likely a modern office space suited for a digital media and technology company, emphasizing collaborative workspaces and advanced technological infrastructure.
As an ad-tech company within the Gruner + Jahr media group, the culture likely combined innovation, performance-driven metrics, and a dynamic approach to the evolving digital advertising landscape.
This location was pivotal for Ligatus's growth and establishment as a key player in the European native advertising market before becoming part of Outbrain.
Prior to its acquisition by Outbrain, Ligatus GmbH had a strong presence across Europe, with dedicated offices and teams in key markets including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and Turkey. These offices supported local publishers and advertisers with tailored native advertising solutions. Following the acquisition, these operations and networks have been integrated into Outbrain's larger global infrastructure.
Christophstraße 19
Köln (Cologne)
North Rhine-Westphalia
Germany
Address: Historical office address in Paris, specific street details vary.
Served as a key hub for Ligatus's activities in France and French-speaking regions, tailoring native ad solutions to local market needs.
Address: Historical office address in Madrid, specific street details vary.
Key center for Ligatus in the Iberian Peninsula, driving growth and adoption of its native advertising platform.
Address: Historical office address in Amsterdam, specific street details vary.
Strategic location for serving the Dutch and Belgian markets, expanding Ligatus's European footprint.
Address: Historical office address in Milan, specific street details vary.
Served as the primary point of contact and operational center for Ligatus in Italy.
Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.
As of April 2025, Ligatus' leadership includes:
Ligatus has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:
Significant executive news for Ligatus GmbH largely centers around its acquisition by Outbrain in 2019 and the subsequent integration of its leadership. As Ligatus is no longer an independent entity, recent executive changes would be within the Outbrain structure.
Discover the tools Ligatus uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.
Historically, Ligatus GmbH, as part of Gruner + Jahr, likely used standard corporate email formats. Common formats included first initial followed by last name, or first name dot last name. Since the acquisition by Outbrain, communications would use Outbrain's email system.
f.last@ligatus.com or first.last@ligatus.com
Format
j.doe@ligatus.com or jane.doe@ligatus.com
Example
5 (These formats are historical. Ligatus.com domain may no longer be actively used for email or may redirect. For current contact, Outbrain's email formats should be used.)%
Success rate
Outbrain Press Release • February 26, 2019
Outbrain announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Ligatus, a leading European native advertising platform, from Gruner + Jahr, a Bertelsmann company. The acquisition aims to expand Outbrain’s European presence and strengthen its native technology offerings for publishers and advertisers....more
ExchangeWire • March 31, 2019
Outbrain announced the completion of its acquisition of Ligatus. This strategic move combines Ligatus's strong publisher network in Europe with Outbrain's global scale and technology, creating a formidable native advertising solution....more
AdZine • September 10, 2018
Ligatus appointed Julien Mosse as Chief Marketplace Officer and Managing Director Southern Europe & Benelux. This move was part of Ligatus's strategy to strengthen its market position and product offering prior to its acquisition....more
See where a company’s workforce is located, by country or region.
View past and recent funding rounds with amounts and investors.
Understand company revenue estimates and financial scale.
Track active roles and hiring trends to spot growth signals.
Discover what a company offers—products, platforms, and solutions.
Get the company’s official SIC and NAICS classifications.
Analyze visitor volume, engagement, and top traffic sources.
Explore LinkedIn, Twitter, and other active social profiles.
Identify top competitors based on similar business traits.
Explore companies in depth — from the tech they use to recent funding, hiring trends, and buyer signals — all in one powerful view.
Highperformr AI helps you surface the right accounts and enrich your CRM with verified company and contact insights, so your teams can prioritize and engage faster.
Thousands of companies, including Ligatus, are just a search away.